NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — An ambitious Metro plan to fund violence interruption efforts in North Nashville has hit a couple of new snags.
One group picked by an advisory board to help lead that effort now says it's no longer interested, and some board members are second-guessing their decision to recommend the controversial group Gideon's Army.
The advisory board — appointed by the mayor to make recommendations to the Metro Council on who should get the funding — will reconvene this week, trying to decide what they should do next after months of deliberation.
More than a year ago, Gideon's Army successfully convinced the Metro Council to set aside $1 million for violence interruption in North Nashville.
In recent months, the advisory board appointed by Mayor John Cooper, working with a new budget of $1.5 million, had heard from nonprofits interested in the work and recommended that Gideon's Army split the money with another group, the Raphah Institute, on a pilot project to see what can be done to reduce violence in the community.
Related: Metro board recommends funding for Gideon's Army, Raphah Institute
But Raphah recently pulled out, suggesting it was stretched too thin with other projects.
Complicating matters: a recent blow-up involving Gideon's Army founder Rasheedat Fetuga, who reportedly went on a profanity-laced tirade inside Pearl-Cohn High School, eventually yanking a photo from the office wall, taking it outside and stomping on it.
Fetuga was banned from the North Nashville school.
Related: Gideon's Army founder/CEO banned from North Nashville school
One member of the mayor's advisory board, Tom Turner of the Nashville Downtown Partnership, emailed his colleagues after NewsChannel 5 Investigates reported on Fetuga being told she could not return to school property.
"How can we in good conscience send a message in support of funding to the Metro Council?" Turner asked.
In fact, the advisory board never questioned Gideon's Army about a host of disturbing questions uncovered by the NewsChannel 5 investigation, including questions about a Gideon's Army employee seen with an assault weapon in the middle of a gun battle.
The mayor's office has taken a hands-off position, saying it's up to the advisory board to make recommendations to the Metro Council and it's the Council's job to decide who should get the money.
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